3 of the Best Sustainable Swaps You’ll be Thankful You’ve Switched To

Eco-friendly swaps may sound very intimidating, but with some help and direction, you’ll be making sustainable swaps left and right!

1.Reusable Water Bottle

One of my personal favorite sustainable swaps is a reusable water bottle - and trust me when I say this, I bring it with me EVERYWHERE. To the pool? Yes. To the grocery store? Yes. To restaurants? YES.

In fact, carrying around my reusable water bottle has become a habit with me - and a healthy one at that. Water bottles are the quintessential swap for anyone starting out on their sustainability journey because they are easy to carry from place to place, plus it allows you to remember to drink more water. We love a hydrated queen. <3

Let me share with you some of my favorite water bottles:

Owala Water Bottle

Why I like it: If you haven’t heard of an Owala bottle, you are truly missing out. They’ve gone viral multiple times because they’ve merged two of the most common ways to drink water - a straw and an open mouth piece. No matter how you want to drink your water, you have OPTIONS.

Hydroflask Bottle

Why I like it: My Hydroflask was my first love (before I got swept away by boys and parties of course). It’s made entirely of metal with a powder coating color on the outside, so the water bottle is practically indestructible. Plus they have multiple lids you can buy depending on your sipping preference.

LARQ Filtered Water Bottle

Why I like it: Now this one is a unique find. A LARQ water bottle is untraditional because the attached straw is actually connected to a water filter. This bottle is great if you’re an on-the-go type of person who enjoys the taste of filtered water compared to tap water.

2.Wool Dyer Balls

These are what I like to call a hero in disguise. Why? because you only have to buy them once and they just. keep. giving.

When I moved in with my boyfriend, we worked hard to find sustainable swaps and eco-friendly brands to buy from that we both liked. Let’s just say that’s easier said than done. One item he was addiment on keeping were his dryer sheets, but it’s not secret how BAD they are not only for the planet (they’re made of plastic and synthetic fragrance), but also your clothes. So after a sloooooooow transition, we moved to Wool Dryer Balls. Now, you don’t get the same strong fragrance you get with dryer sheets, BUT you do get the same “softness” for your clothes.

(Pro tip: if you want some scent for your dryer balls, I’ve been told a few drops of essential oil on the wool balls will do just the trick!)

Where to buy Wool Dryer Balls

Now I have to be honest. Most wool dryer balls are all going to be the same. I could link some brands and websites I like, but you’re probably better off Google searching “Wool Dryer Balls” or stopping by your local grocery store to pick them up.

3.Reusable Grocery Bags

Surprise! This is probably the swap you were waiting to see, so here it is!

Plastic grocery bags are over consumed and end up becoming single use plastic items that get thrown away shortly after you get home.

“I forgot my reusable grocery bags! What do I do?”

Hey, we’ve all been there. First of all, do not be too hard yourself. Using the plastic bags are okay from time to time.

Reuse the Plastic Bags

Think about ways you can reuse and repurpose them. You you have a dog and can you use them as doggie poop bags? A bathroom trashcan that needs a liner? Anyway you can reuse these will be helpful so they are getting a longer life instead of being single use plastics.

Opt for Paper Grocery Bags

Most grocery stores also offer paper grocery bags! You may need to ask, but more often than not, they will bring them out. Once you get home try to reuse the paper bags around your home (maybe for catching compost scraps or a fun craft) and be sure to recycle them afterwards.

A Final Reminder

Be imperfect! Don’t be too hard on yourself if you aren’t perfect or if you mess up. While sustainable swaps are helpful and can make change collectively, they won’t save the world. So if you mess up, give yourself grace and try to reduce, reuse, and recycle what you have BEFORE throwing it away. :)

We’re in this together!

<3 Krys